August 14, 2007

Too soon

Last week, I was standing in the surf, enjoying the waves and ocean breeze and smell of the salt air, feeling relaxed and carefree. Then my youngest son, the boy who is still young enough to want to snuggle in the evening, the child who will still hold my hand, the one who will still ask me to read aloud to him, the baby of the family, strode into my line of vision. He stood there with his skimboard, shaking his wet hair from his eyes and intently watching the waves to catch one just right.

And suddenly, it hit me. It's happened again, to one of my darling children.

He's turning into a teenager.

With-a-Why

16 comments:

Linda said...

Something happened to that boy! Wow!

It happens too fast, doesn't it.

Jane said...

Oh no! I was hoping this whole growing-up thing was just a vicious rumor, and that they actually did stay babies forever. Drat. :)

Yankee T said...

I remember seeing a photo of his forearm a couple of months ago and telling you at the time that it wasn't a little boy's arm any more.

The baby...it's tough. And wondrous.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Oh boy, the same thing is happening to my youngest. Even his voice is deepening--already!

Wonderful picture.

Jenevieve said...

Whoa, he really does look like a teenager in that picture!

My best friend's little brother turns 14 this fall. When I saw him this summer, I just stood staring at him for a minute or two. He was HUGE! And so, I don't know, teenish. It was weird.

All I'm saying is, well, I get it.

timna said...

he's beautiful. earlier this week I wondered if he was with-a-why when I saw all that hair!

almond joy insists on taking the driving test tomorrow. I'm still pretending this is not happening.

argon(one) said...

My daughters are 17 and 20 now. It seems like only yesterday they were in middle school . . . and now my youngest is a senior! What happens to the time. I'm going to miss them when they grow up.

susan said...

All your kids always seem so very big to me..but you're right, he is growing up so fast! Your kids, whatever age, are full of joy and delight.

KLee said...

Offsring is now eleven and a half, and I can see the changes coming as well. It's right around the corner, and it's killing me.

I miss my baby. But, I hope that I raised her to become a good person. Let's just hope that we both get the chance to find out.

Kyla said...

I'm still mourning the loss of my chubby preschooler to this lanky big kid...I don't know what I'll do when the times change again. It does go too quickly.

BeachMama said...

I was just yesterday looking at my four year old thinking, he is a little boy now, not a baby. I don't know how I will handle him turning into a teenager.

Liz Miller said...

HOLY GUACAMOLE!!

ccw said...

I love this picture!

It's killing me that Kid L looks so grown at almost 12. I cannot even imagine how difficult it will be when the baby makes this change.

Michael Campbell said...

If you don't want your beautiful children to grow up, do what I did: I had mine freeze-dried. They are so cute!

jo(e) said...

Picky Mick: Oh, I waited until too late. The older boys are so tall that it would be awfully expensive to get them freeze-dried.

Anonymous said...

Wow, he is really grown like a teenager, he'll be a real teenager within a very short years. I'm wonder whether you're taking pictures of only beautiful places or your photography makes them beautiful, anyway its treat to watch...
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